2014 Pancreatic Cancer Walk Raises Nearly $250K

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – It has been called the grimmest common malignancy. Even if pancreatic cancer is detected early, the prognosis is rarely good.

This weekend, thousands gathered in Pittsburgh to join in the fight against it.

“Pancreatic cancer is the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in the United States. We are the least funded and really, there are no early detection so people are diagnosed and many times, six months later they pass away,” Joy Miller said.

KDKA-TV’s Dave Crawley served as emcee for the event. Many had a personal connection to the disease, like 13-year-old Gavin Riddle.

“Participate in something that will help pancreatic cancer and to support my dad,” Riddle said.

His dad, Sean, lost his battle to pancreatic cancer last August.

In this group, he doesn’t have to explain anything. They understand. They also celebrate those who still fight on.

“I didn’t know if I was going to survive or not. And then we went to two years, and they were happy. We got to five years, they were even more happy and now, for me, it’s over nine years,” Wes Semple said.

The walk was a big fundraiser in the battle against pancreatic cancer and it’s often led by survivors.

“It’s just been amazing the support that we get year after year and we’ll be back next year. We hope, you know, with lots more money,” Mark Tupek said.

This year’s event already raised nearly a $250,000 with additional money expected to come in for the next three months.

Rick Dayton joined KDKA in September 2009 as a morning news anchor. He can be seen anchoring the KDKA-TV Morning News from 4:30am-7am on KDKA-TV and the KDKA-TV Morning News on Pittsburgh's CW from 7am-8am on WPCW-TV alongside co-anchor Jennifer...